Wanting Barbie's New Book?

SOLD OUT

As the 1st Chief Meteorologist in WLBT-TV's (NBC)history & Meteorologist for WDBD FOX-40 in Jackson, Mississippi, Barbie is a Million Dollar Circle Earner & Lexus Achiever as a RFx Independent Executive Consultant with Rodan + Fields Dermatology. Raised on a farm as the last of four children, Barbie shares the joys and frustrations of being in the public eye and trying to live by faith in her blog. A member of seven boards of directors, active in her church and a volunteer, she is the mother of three children which she homeschoools: Grace, Will Christian, and Lilly Faith. Barbie travels the country speaking to organizations, churches and conferences sharing her faith. For information on scheduling Barbie at your next event or for a book signing, go to www.barbiebassett.com .
Click here for the Income Discloser Statement with Rodan + Fields:
https://www.rodanandfields.com/images/Archives/RF-Income-Disclosure-Statement.pdf

Photo By: www.allimphoto.com

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

I've always been a bit hesitant with letting my children "help" with decorating the Christmas tree. While my method of decorating is like that of a Type A personality in that I want structure and perfection, my children's' method of decorating the tree is most like a throw-it-up-there-and-let's-see-where-it-lands method.

It wasn't until one morning when I noticed one of the glass balls had fallen on the floor and shattered into pieces. I grabbed a broom and dust pan, got on the floor, and commenced to cleaning up the shards, hoping to get every sliver. While on the floor, I found myself eye level with the bottom of the tree. What did I find but a plethora of Christmas balls hanging on the lower limbs of the tree, all in a row. From my height location, I had not seen where our youngest Lilly Faith had put many of her decorations.

Everyone's perspective is different. Our perspective on our life is often different than God's. Romans 11:33 says, "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!" The fundamental difference between someone who has faith in God and the unbeliever is revealed by the way they judge things. The unbeliever judges things by worldly standards, by his senses, and by time. The person learning to think like God brings God into everything, viewing things from His perspective, by His values. He seriously meditates on God's sovereignty over all things. Faith holds a person steady.

Because we often do not think like God, and because we do not have His perfect perspective, we often do not exactly know what God is doing. Only in hindsight do we understand what God is allowing in our life.

When I stood up from cleaning the floor, I took a step back to look at the tree once more. My perspective had changed. No longer was I on the floor staring at the imperfections of Lilly Faith's placement of ornaments, but I was seeing the beauty of the tree in all of its glittering glory. That's exactly the way God sees you. While you have some scattered parts of your life that can be chaotic, He sees your full potential and your purpose.

Instead of focusing on the areas of your life that aren't perfect, remember how God sees you--perfectly put together for a mission that He has created you for and only He can direct.

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

When my publicist told me that a representative from the Mississippi Baptist Convention contacted her about my being the guest speaker at the Ministers Wives Conference at the Convention, I was elated. While I am not the daughter or the wife of a pastor, I've watched closely those who are over the years and witnessed the hurt many church going folk have lobbed at the preacher's wife. When parishioners are mad, they have a tendency to complain to the wife of the pastor. Not only does she hurt for her husband, but in some cases, she protects his feelings and keeps the critical comments to herself.

Being in the media is similar. The forecast isn't the target. The target is everything superficial. And everyone has an opinion, including the well intentioned viewers, I'm sure. In sharing some of the emails and anonymous letters I've received recently with the group, they GET why I have taken a step back from the camera lights for a while so that I can focus on more important aspects of my life. With each one I read, you could see it on their faces: they had heard similar criticisms from their church members.

While sharing with the wives, I encouraged them not to focus on the "constructive criticism" they don't solicit, but to shut the door on the negativity shown to them. For some this means shutting the door on the negative people who feel the need to share their opinion. Retreating and taking a step back is the first movement forward in walking in your anointing. You must retreat in order to advance.

Isaiah 30:15 says, "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength." Silence away from the nay-sayers is the place where God does the greatest works in your life and in your walk of faith. But faith isn't faith until you DO something. I've discovered finding those quiet seasons when you can concentrate on what God has called you to do opens up a wellspring of God-ordained appointments.

When I returned, I received numerous messages including this email from one of the ladies in the audience:

"Thank you for your words of encouragement today at the Minister's Wives gathering. Having been in this role now for 35 years, I resonated with many of your emails from "sisters in Christ." I appreciated your willingness to be personal. My husband and I are currently in a time of "retreat" and had to "shut the door" in order to regain our perspective. Today was a light rain on my parched heart, and I thank God for using you in my life today."

Perhaps God is calling you to take a step back and to walk by faith in a certain area so that He can pull up alongside of you and show you what He has next for you. Your trust in God is your strength.

(Barbie will be speaking in Columbus, Ohio next week and will be the guest speaker at the Mississippi Conference of Medial Assistants the following week.)

Friday, August 30, 2013

A special thank you to those who have commented, sent me texts and emails about the "Redefine Your Future" blog story released this week. I truly appreciate your posts over the last few days on my Facebook pages.

Monday, July 8, 2013

A question I'm bombarded with lately is: "Where are you? Are you still on tv?"

For some time I've felt called away, if you will, to concentrate on things much bigger than myself. I've spent time in the paradise-filled island of Bora Bora with Rodan + Fields Dermatologists, spent valuable time with my children and have been more inclined to hone my heart at being a better wife and help mate to my husband. While away from my television career that I've enjoyed for some 18 years, I've also spent more time fasting and writing on my next book. There's been lots of fun along the way over the last 2 months, but some of the most rewarding moments have included visiting with strangers-turned-friends battling cancer, teaching my children the importance of giving, and living my faith in a more intense fashion.

My children enjoy making things for the homeless at the local Stewpot Community Services. They mold and make things with their hands under the direction of their babysitter. Each holiday, they like to make something unique for the homeless and for the 4th of July, they gave over 150 sunglasses with red, white and blue lanyards attached to each pair. My son Will said, "They thanked ME!" and that was all he needed to feel like he had given his best.

Kids with their sunglasses individually wrapped to give to the homeless.

While in Bora Bora, I had the opportunity to talk and visit with one of the locals. While their culture is quite interesting, they all have the same hopes and dreams for the future. In fact, they are a very loving people.

Talking with one of the Bora Bora locals as he explains what his tattoos mean.

My most recent stop included visiting with Kim Stribling. Kim is fighting breast cancer and her friend, Shirley Walker, emailed me a few months ago to ask if I would come for a surprise visit because Kim was a big fan of mine. It was one of the most inspiring visits I had made recently and I've been following her progress ever since. This last visit, I anointed Kim and her hospital room and even gave her a black pearl from my trip to Bora Bora. Kim lights up the room and lights up my heart. The "spiritual advancement" she's gone through recently has made her a beacon of light for so many in Vicksburg.

Visiting with Kim in her hospital room waiting on round #6 of chemo.

All of these events remind me why I've taken a break from my television career. For so long, I've reached my goals only to have them superseded by the next goal conjured in my mind. But now I've stopped setting "getting goals" and started setting "giving goals". Through the blessings I've had with my business, my goals are now giving goals because that is my focus now. My motivation for making more is giving more...giving more time, more resources, more encouragement. After all, you make a living by what you get, but you make a life by what you give.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

So many of you have asked if I'd share our last day in Bora Bora. We started the day with Doctors Rodan and Fields and they shared some staggering comments with us. While I won't share it all here, one comment really stood out to me.

Dr. Rodan said, "We WILL be a global skincare giant and YOU will have the ability to influence and affect thousands for the greater good."

Whoa.

Have you ever thought about what that looks like for you.....to influence and affect thousands for the greater good? For me personally, it's to be a Kingdom builder for the Lord and to share the love of Christ.

On the way back from breakfast, I made a stop at the chapel there at the Four Seasons resort. When I walked in and looked straight ahead, I saw this view. It was the mountain again that I had blogged about earlier. It was another moment in time to sit, reflect and yes, pray. What a responsibility to be called to.

There are going to be some mountains you're going to have to go around: negative people, difficult situations, and friends who look at you like you're crazy because of your commitment to the Lord. You're going to have to keep the mountain into perspective and remember there's another side you haven't seen yet. But you won't get there....you won't "influence and affect thousands for the greater good" if you waste your time staying at the bottom of the mountain and giving every excuse as to why living the Christ-centered life is so hard and so tiresome.

I was reminded of Proverbs 16:20, "Those who listen to instruction will prosper; those who trust the LORD will be joyful."

Listen to the Lord's instruction and live in joy knowing you're being obedient!

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

When we arrived in Bora Bora, I was fascinated with this mountain. It's just an incredible site to see and is actually the side crater of the volcano that lies beneath the water. Who would've thought lava could pile high enough to create this peak? Every time I go outside, I look at that mountain and wondered "What's on the other side?"

We took a jeep tour on that island--yes, where that mountain is. I wasn't too thrilled with this climb in an old vehicle that looked like it hadn't had a brake inspection in 20 years. I don't care for heights, especially when rocks are sliding under our tires and we are inches away from death over a cliff.

When we got to the other side of this mountain and stepped out of the jeep, the view took my breath away. My eyes couldn't take it all in and were in overload. Now I knew why I've been so mesmerized by this mountain and why I needed to get to the other side!

Your spiritual walk of faith can often look like an incredible mountain to you.You watch others have faith and walk through the storms in life and come out victorious on the other side. You wonder if or when you'll get to that point of being able to place your problems and issues into the hands of the Father. But it's so easy to get comfortable on your side of the mountain because of the fear of the steep climb and the falling rocks that may come down in front of you, not to mention the dramatic drop off the mountain just inches away. Because of fear of failure, you're simply stuck with admiring the mountain but never going to the other side.

Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." 2 Corinthians 5:7 says, "We live by faith, not by sight." 1 Corinthians 2:5 says, "...so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom but on God's power."
So my question to the guide on our tour was: Has anyone ever climbed this mountain? The answer is no. It's too steep so the people just go around it by going on the other side. Interesting....

If you knew what's on the other side of your spiritual mountain, you'd go around it. There's no need to climb it when you can go around it. Move forward, in faith, and get to the other side so you can see what's ahead in your growing relationship with the Lord.

Friday, May 24, 2013

I have recently returned from the picturesque island of Bora Bora in French Polynesia with Rodan + Fields Dermatology. I had shared some of my experiences and how they relate to my spiritual walk with many of my business partners and thought I'd share them with you as well.

One adventure in Bora Bora included a swim
with the underwater sealife. Now, I'm NOT the adventurous one of this group.
I'd much rather stay ON the boat and not UNDER the boat.

After a short lesson about what we would possibly see while underwater, I had
convinced myself there was no way I could do it. I'm not an expert swimmer,
especially when there's a tremendous current (the worst the
natives claim in 4 years), but I could certainly spout off the instructions the
guide gave. I listened well, could recite word-for-word the instructions on
watching out how deep you can comfortably dive without a tank, but there was
NOOOO way *I* was going to dip in THAT water.

So a couple of us ladies decided we would cheer everyone else on and stay in
the boat. But something began to happen. I watched as others, who aren't expert
swimmers either, jump into the glassy blue waters and immediately pop back
up. I heard the laughter, the fun, the comments like "Look what's under
here! Oh my goodness!" The smiles of amazement were making me even more
curious.

All I could think of was: Do these people know manta rays can kill you?!
Finally, the guide looked up at me from the water and yelled out, "You
don't know what you're missing!" I was content to stay on the boat and
watch everyone else swim with the underwater creatures while I played it safe.

Have you been guilt of doing that in your walk with Christ? You long for the peace and joy you see your Christian friends living and you wonder, "Why not me?"
So after watching everyone else talk about what they were seeing and
experiencing, the positive peer pressure got to me and I couldn't stand the
thought of someone else having fun and fear talking me out of an experience. The guide grabbed my
hand and down I went.
A manta ray came up, blinked at me and acted like a purring kitten
wanting to be touched again and again.

Fear isn't pretty. It's Satan's primary method of attack because he knows when you step out of fear, you step into faith. Psalm 91:3-6 says, "Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday." Psalm 89:8 says, "O LORD God Almighty, who is like you? You are mighty, O LORD, and your faithfulness surrounds you."
When I got back in the boat, I was so glad that I got out of the boat.
Listening to what I was supposed to do by the guide was a good thing; but
actually DOING it brought me a sense of fulfillment that watching others do
from afar couldn't match.

I asked the guide why the manta rays seemed so tame, friendly and didn't
scare me? "They had their barbs pulled out years ago when they were
babies. They can't hurt you." As it turns out, I was afraid of something that
didn't even have the ability to hurt me at all.

Worry of the unknown gives small things a big shadow. Stop
watching everyone else have the "peace that passes all understanding" (Philippians 4:7) and start taking
a dip into the water yourself. Chances are, not only will you learn things
about yourself that you never knew but your faith in God will increase in ways
you never imagined....all because you got out of the boat.

(Barbie will be sharing a few more highlights of her trip to Bora Bora with Rodan + Fields Dermatology in the coming days.)

Friday, May 3, 2013

Being in the public eye for the last 18 years, I get my share of critiques. With the advent of the internet and social media, they come more often than they would should someone take the time to sit down and write a handwritten letter to express their disdain. I remember asking my predecessor, the late Woodie Assaf, if he received as many emails as I did when it came to critical viewers? He said, "If I did, I wouldn't care because I'd tell them where they could put it."

I received these emails just this week:

"Maybe I should get a job as a weatherman. It's the ONLY job I know of that a
person can be 100% WRONG and still keep their jobs. You and others have said,
"make your plans for there's no rain in the forecast". So, that's what I do, to
ONLY be poured on. Today is only one example of the past weather reports. What
bothers me the most, we get your forecast, make our plans, and when the weather
is TOTALLY different from the forecast, then the reporting changes to fit the
actual weather. Seems to me, a "WEATHER ROCK" would be a lot more accurate. If
what you all report is coming from some other source, such as National Weather
Service, maybe another source would be a thought. Please don't take this
personal, because it's not meant to be."

"You look great tonight.
There are about 50+ of us women watching from all different walks of
life.

You look very professional. But can
we get you to cut you hair?" Anonymous

I had even posted one of these emails on my public Facebook page this week. While many were shocked that viewers take the time to email their critiques, one viewer sent me this suggestion:

"As with many jobs in dealing with the public and being such a public figure being in tv as you are I'm sure there are many trying times. I would greatly appreciate it if you would just ignore the comments from negative thoughts and negative persons comments to you and please don't share on Facebook. As one adult to another we have to look over these comments and move forward. Thank you and have a blessed day. PS-- whining gets nothing accomplished."

A few people have asked why I share some of my emails? My reasoning is simple: to expose how superficially critical we can sometimes be. It's amazing the freedom we feel when we can hide behind a computer keyboard, throw stones and hide. And let's face it, emails and social media have made us more susceptible to everyone else's opinion, barbs, jabs and yes, even the "constructive criticism" (is there really such a thing?)

I began to think how I would be taken if I were to walk into my local bank and tell the bank teller, "I don't like how you're doing your job. My first grader can count money faster than you. And honey child, that outfit you have on is a hot mess. I hope you don't mind that I'm giving you constructive criticism because you know I love you. I just want to help you do your job better since so many people come in here every day and look up to you." I believe I'd be sucker punched and then thrown OUT of the bank. So why do we think it's perfectly permissible to tell others what we think of them?

Tapping out your thoughts on a keyboard is easy to do. Before you do, think about the implications of what you're about to share. Would it be considered acceptable in the Lord's sight? If not, hit the backspace key and try again.

Monday, April 15, 2013

Until last weekend, we haven't moved in 16 years. One thing I've learned about moving: the boxes multiply like bunnies. Just when you think you've emptied all of the boxes and put things into their proper place, you find more boxes waiting to be unloaded. It's a never-ending pile it seems.

While I stared at the pile of empty boxes, I felt the Holy Spirit remind me of the many times I've placed God in a box. While I may have prayed for an answer to a complex situation and begged for God to move on my behalf, I've spiritually limited Him by not believing He would REALLY answer my prayer or perhaps I believed I hadn't been good enough for Him to be concerned about my worries. So, without knowing it, I've put God in a box.

Hebrews 11:6 says, "But without faith, it is impossible to please him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them who diligently seek him."

If God has no limits, then neither should our prayers. God exists and operates outside of the four space-time dimensions of boxes and the world He created. Therefore, we should pray that way. Even our hardest prayers are easy for the One who created, sees and knows all. And it doesn't matter how long or how loud you pray. It all boils down to if you believe there is no limit to God's power to answer your prayer.

God can answer your prayers. Because He can, you can pray with fervor, ferocity, focus, and see His favor on your circumstance. God is not going to stay in the little box I've put Him in.

(Barbie will be the guest speaker this Thursday at First Baptist Church of Madison's ladies dinner.)

Friday, March 15, 2013

Our new home is almost ready for the Bassett family to take up residence. It's been 16 years since we last moved. It was at that time in 1996 that I have left my television job in Chattanooga to move back home to Mississippi and marry my husband. Now 3 kids later and lots of acquisitions, it's a bigger project and it takes much longer, too.

While the floors were in transition in the new house, I asked the children to come up with their favorite Bible verses, handed them a jumbo black Sharpie marker, and gave them the instructions: write on the floors. Will, our 7 year old, had a look on his face that read 'Last time I did this, I got in trouble' and asked, "You mean we can write on the floor and not get in trouble?" After asking why I was allowing them to write on the floors their scriptures, I explained how nice it would be to be surrounded by God's Word all of the time, especially when they're having difficult days. So, they commenced to writing first in the children's den.

Afterwards, they went to their bedrooms to write another favorite verse along with the verse I chose to pray over each of them while I was expecting them and still pray over them to this day which I shared in my first book "Forecasts & Faith: 5 Keys to Weathering the Storms of Life".
Did you know the act of writing scripture is dotted all throughout the Bible? God wrote on stone tablets for Moses (Deuteronomy 10:1-2), the Israelites wrote scriptures on their door frames (Deuteronomy 6:4-9), the Israelites wrote on the stones taken from the Jordan River (Deuteronomy 27:1-8), and writing would be a witness against Israel (Isaiah 30:8). John even stated in John 21:25, "Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written."

Psalm 119:11 says, "I have hidden your word in my heart that I may not sin against you."

I want our new home to be a place of spiritual revelation, peace and loving wisdom. It was a lesson for our children that we're not only hiding God's Word in our hearts, but hiding it in our home, too.

(Inquiries are being taken for the remainder of 2013. If your church or organization is wanting Barbie to speak at an upcoming conference, please visit www.barbiebassett.com and click "Contact Info".)

Friday, February 22, 2013

Have you ever been accused of saying something you didn't say, doing something you didn't do or taking something you didn't take? Here recently, a couple of people whom I dearly love have been accused of doing something they didn't do. Their names were printed in news papers, posted on pseudo-news blogs and even mentioned briefly on television news reports. It wasn't pleasant to watch, read or listen to because I knew the truth of the matter. When you've been wrongfully accused of something, it's a tough road to travel.

The word "satan" in Hebrew means "adversary, one who plots against another". In the Greek translation, "satan" is diabolos which means "slanderer, onewhothrows(something)across thepathofanother". Also in Greek, another translation is the wordepibouloswhich means "plotter".Are you seeing a connection here? The truth is no where near someone who is accusing another, who plots against another, who slanders or plots against another.Chances are, you've been accused of doing something you truly did not do. When you are facing accusations, it's a natural reflex to defend yourself, your character and your integrity. But God says He will defend you. Zechariah 4:6 says, "Not by might not by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD Almighty." So what do you do when you find yourself in someone else's cross hairs? Stay strong. Press against the slandering words, the hurt and the pain which the adversary is throwing your way and look at what Psalm 34:7 says, "The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them." There's no need to fear man's words when God has His angels surrounding you on all sides. Your accuser doesn't have God's blessing of angels around them.

Friday, January 18, 2013

Just a few weeks into the new year and it's about time for people to slack off on their resolutions. It happens, right? I began to wonder: why do we falter just after a few weeks on what we set out to accomplish with such vigor previously? The word the Holy Spirit placed on my heart was diligence.God spoke specifically about this when He gave the children of Israel the condition upon which He would bless them. Deuteronomy 28:1 says, "If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God...." Then God lists what will happen *if* His children are obedient listing a myriad of blessings.To "fully obey" the Lord is to be diligent. According to Websters dictionary, diligence is: constant in effort or exertion to accomplish what is undertaken, steady; not careless, not negligent; attentive and persistent. Notice in Deuteronomy 28 the promise says the blessing doesn't come until you are STEADY. Often times, people wonder why God allows bad things to happen or they question why God does things? Why do they question God? Because they aren't being steady and constant in application. The difference between winners and losers is the same difference between stayers and leavers! There are people who will do what God says, every so often, if it fits their dream for their life. But they won't obey the Lord if it doesn't fit what they want to do. If you're beginning to question *if* God will come through for you on your need, you're not being steady with your faith in Him and what He wants to accomplish in your life.(Barbie's first book, Forecasts & Faith: 5 Keys to Weathering the Storms of Life, is now SOLD OUT.)